President’s Message

I recently attended a Judy Collins concert at Cain Park. Those of you who are of a certain age will remember her. She is a folk singer from the 1960s, part of the Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan era. Judy is now 84 years old and can still hit those high notes and has amazing breath control. She ended the concert with Stephen Sondheim’s “Send in the Clowns.”

Well, that takes me back to another era when the National Organization for Women (NOW) was in full swing. There was a T-shirt with “Send in the Clowns” on the front along with a picture of the U.S. Capitol and underneath it was this message: “Don’t bother they’re here.” (Part of the song, if you are unfamiliar).

So, I ask, has much changed? As I was writing this final column, we were still waiting for the debt ceiling issue to be resolved, at the risk of an international financial crisis. Some U.S. Supreme Court justices and spouses are coming under a cloud of questionable gifts and activities. At our very own Ohio Statehouse, there is so much “clowning” occurring that it’s almost impossible to itemize.

As I wrap up my final term as our League’s president, I implore you to stay on top of all that is happening in Ohio. As we learned at our last All Member Meeting, what “our” legislators are trying to do to higher education and K-12 in our state is catastrophic. What they have just done to get Issue 1 (Senate Joint Resolution 2 and House Joint Resolution 1) on the ballot August 8 is beyond reason. More than 240 organizations and past governors and attorneys general—of both parties—have expressed their opposition to Issue 1. Nonetheless, the General Assembly, evidently much wiser than everyone else, has moved ahead with another $20 million special election.

All Leagues in Ohio are preparing to mobilize to defeat Issue 1 with a VOTE NO campaign. Get ready to help by joining forces to educate the public about how harmful it would be if Issue 1 passes and how we would be turning our very democracy over to powerful interests that are not representative of our interests.

We have been fielding calls and emails from voters who want to sign the reproductive rights petition. Those inquiries should go to Protect Choice Ohio. 

Finally, thank you all for a great three years as your president. I look forward to the new energy your incoming board will bring to our organization. Please join us at the Annual Meeting on June 3 to welcome them. See the article below for your meeting packet.

I’m also looking forward to spending more time in my garden this summer and decompressing a little bit before launching into the fight to defeat Issue 1. Feel free to stop by, pull a few weeds and nibble on whatever produce is available!

Thank you, League of Women Voters of Kent. It has been an honor to serve as your president!

In League,

Debbie

The Ohio Ballot Board has approved the language for State Issue 1, (you can click on the link to see it) which will make it harder for citizens to pass ballot initiatives. We have the power to make our voices heard by voting NO on August 8 and by educating voters about the unpopular, undemocratic, unfair and unnecessary Issue 1!

Here are your options. Choose one or all of them:

• Check with the LWV Kent Voter Service Committee for opportunities to register voters and distribute information about voting NO ON ISSUE 1 during the August 8 special election. Email Stacy Yaniglos or Jill Hazelton or call Stacy at 330-697-5273. See the article above for details and links to sign ups.

• Check out the NO on ISSUE 1 coalition website here.

• Be a volunteer leader to assist with yard-sign distribution. Yard signs will be coming, and the coalition working on the campaign will let you know when and where to get one. Print out a sign now for your window or car.

• Write a letter to the editor of your local paper in opposition to Issue 1.

• Check your voter registration.

• Check where to go for in person voting and early voting. Help family and friends find out about registering, voting early and voting by mail.

• Join the One Person One Vote Facebook Group.

• Request VOTE NO materials.

• Use your social media to DEFEAT ISSUE 1. You can download a Facebook cover here by right clicking on the image and selecting the "Save image as" option from the drop-down menu. Once you have the image in your download file, you can upload it to your Facebook cover or posts. Call 330-687-3748 for help!

or here . . .

You can download a Facebook post here by right clicking on the image and selecting the "Save image as" option from the drop-down menu. Once you have the image in your download file, you can upload it to your Facebook posts. Call 330-687-3748 for help!

or here . . .

Established as a federal holiday in 2021, Juneteenth celebrates the courage and perseverance of Black Americans by observing the end of slavery in the United States and commemorates the day when the news of emancipation reached enslaved Black Americans in Texas. Juneteenth is an opportunity for all of us to acknowledge the history of our nation, honor the life and legacy of the Black American experience and reflect on the impact of slavery and progress made toward racial equity.

For more information about Juneteenth events in Kent and Portage County, click on the images below.

ICYMI!*

Presentation by Honesty for Ohio Education

at the May All Member Meeting

Cynthia Peeples, founding director of Honesty for Education Ohio, talks about the work of her organization at the May 11, 2023 All Member Meeting of the League of Women Voters of Kent at Kent Social Services.

*In Case You MIssed It!

“Preserving All Voices: DEI Challenges Facing Today’s Education” was the title of presentations at the May 11, 2023 All Member Meeting that pulled from statewide and local perspectives about how diversity, equity and inclusion practices are struggling in Ohio schools. The League of Women Voters of Kent’s DEI Committee discussed the issues that arose during a series of meetings held by the Kent Interfaith Alliance for Racial Reconciliation and Justice (KIFA) during the past school year. The series featured panels of faculty members, administrators, parents, students and a local school board member talking about their experiences dealing with racial issues in the Kent City schools. Committee Chair Kim Gruenwald, Ph.D., shares the information. Kim's remarks followed a presentation by Cynthia Peeples, founding director of Honesty for Ohio Education (HFOE), who introduced her organization, which has partnered with the League of Women Voters of Ohio, among other organizations, to promote honesty in Ohio education.

Read the latest from the LWV Kent Observer Corps. Click here. Interested in an outreach activity that puts you in the rooms where it happens? Click here.

SAVE THE DATE...All events are free except where noted

June 3 | Saturday | 8:45 – 11:30 a.m. | Annual Meeting | Kent United Methodist Church, 1435 E. Main St., Kent | Potluck Brunch; please bring your place setting | Free Program starts at 9:30 a.m.

June 7 | Wednesday | 1:30 p.m. | LWV Kent Book Club | Click here to email for details. 

July 5 | Wednesday | 1:30 p.m. | LWV Kent Book Club | Click here to email for details.  

July 13 | Thursday | 6 p.m. | TECHLAB | Kent Social Services, 1066 S. Water St., Kent  | Free; bring your laptop or smart phone

July 13 | Thursday | 7 p.m. | All Member Meeting | Kent Social Services, 1066 S. Water St., Kent 

Aug 2 | Wednesday | 1:30 p.m. | LWV Kent Book Club | Click here to email for details.  

Aug 7 | Monday | 7 p.m. | All Member Meeting | Kent Social Services, 1066 S. Water St., Kent